In the midst of the NFL’s bounty controversy, two former NBA stars have shared tales of similar ploys in their sport (both via Pro Basketball Talk).

Charles Barkley said while he was playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, a $5,000 reward was dangled for taking out an opposing players who continued to take 3-pointers during a blowout. And Cedric Maxwell even named the Celtics' target: Len Elmore.

“One time, we were getting beat by 30 points, back, this was in my Philadelphia days,” Barkley said on Dan Patrick’s radio show. “I’m a firm believer if a guy shoots a 3 (during a blowout) that you knock his ass as far in the stands as you possibly can. We were getting beat by 30 or 40, I can’t remember, and this guy was shooting 3s and running up and down the court, and I said, ‘Hey, we got to hurt that guy right there.’ ”

Maxwell, who played in the NBA for 11 seasons, the first eight with the Celtics, told WBZ-TV, "We did it in the NBA. We had a guy, Len Elmore, used to love to take charges. He’s an analyst right now for CBS. You might want to hear this Len. We had a bounty on you. If you stepped on his chest, you got paid.

"It was about $10, but it was enough. (Elmore) was wondering why guys were stepping on him. ... Not take him out; just putting an imprint on his chest, the size of my shoe. Don’t worry about it, he’s OK."